Official Government data has revealed the parts of the country with the highest proportion of people at risk of seeing a restriction to their benefits due to changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) rules.
Across the region, 90 per cent of the 91,000 people who currently receive the standard allowance for daily support (81,900) would be at risk of not scoring enough points if their circumstances remained the same.
And 89 per cent of the 135,000 people who receive the benefit in the West Midlands (120,150) would also be at risk of losing it.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has claimed that those who do not currently score high enough to receive the benefit may do so in future assessments.
But the data, released by the Government this week, is likely to fuel mounting opposition among rebel Labour MPs, who are concerned about the impacts of the reforms and are pushing for a concession from ministers.
They said this uncertainty only added to the need for ministers to delay the proposals in order to carry out more assessments of their impact.
Around 150 MPs have signed letters to the PM and Chief Whip saying they will not support the changes in their current form.
Labour MPs in seats facing challenges from the likes of Reform UK, or Plaid Cymru in Wales, privately say they are coming under pressure on the doorstep over benefits cut.
A person can be eligible for the award if they need help with practical tasks or things like socialising and managing their money.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has proposed tightening the rules so that a person will need to score at least four in at least one daily living category – meaning only those with more severe challenges would be given the money.
It ranges from 85 per cent in the South East and South West, to 90 per cent in Wales.
Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney and Tipton and Wednesbury – both Labour seats in Wales – have the highest proportion of claimants who could be impacted, at 92 per cent.
The region with the highest number of people claiming the daily living support element of PIP is the North West, where 206,000 rely on the payment. Some 87 per cent of these did not hit the four-point threshold.
Darling told The i Paper: “This lays bare the scale of the damage that the Government’s cuts could do to some of society’s most vulnerable.
“The Government must recognise the devastating impact that these cuts could have and change course.”
“We don’t want constituents to be unnecessarily fearful about their situation, when we understand many are already anxious. We will always protect the most vulnerable people,” he added.
A DWP spokesperson said: “The majority of people who are currently getting PIP will continue to receive it.“We will never compromise on protecting people who need our support, and our reforms will mean the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work, and that their income is protected.“We have also announced a review of the PIP assessment, and we will be working with disabled people and key organisations representing them to consider how best to do this.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The areas where claimants are most at risk of losing benefits in PIP reforms, mapped )
Also on site :